7-year-old girl honors aunt with hair donation

Regan Gilmore, 7, recently wanted to honor her Aunt Karen, who died two years ago from breast cancer at age 43. Regan’s father, Daniel Gilmore, was an organizer of the Merrimack High School state champion football team that formed an organization to support Jason Hilton, the former teammate who died from Huntington’s disease. Regan’s family, including her father; her mother, Stacy Gilmore; and her sisters, Caroline and Sydney, now live in Groton, Mass. “During Karen’s life, she had earned a master’s and doctorate, and left behind a 5-year-old daughter and twin 2-year-old boys,” Gilmore said. “My middle daughter, Regan, vowed to not cut her hair until it was long enough to donate to make a wig for another cancer patient. It is now long enough – beautiful blonde flowing hair.” Regan decided to cut her hair on her aunt’s birthday in October rather than on the anniversary of her death. Regan received her haircut at Che Bella on Route 119 in Groton. Regan is the granddaughter of Kay Murphy, of Merrimack, who attended the session.